{"id":2491,"date":"2023-03-25T13:28:40","date_gmt":"2023-03-25T20:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/?p=2491"},"modified":"2023-03-25T13:28:40","modified_gmt":"2023-03-25T20:28:40","slug":"all-i-have-left","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/2023\/03\/25\/all-i-have-left\/","title":{"rendered":"All I Have Left"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

prompt: Write about a character who is starting to open up to life again.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

available at Reedsy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle picked up the phone and called the only number stored in her contacts. When the voice on the other end answered, she said, \u201cSoph, it\u2019s Gabs. Could you\u2026come over? I think I need some help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophia gave a light knock at the door. The woman who answered looked nothing like the woman she\u2019d known. Gaunt and disheveled, her once rosy skin gone pale, her eyes sunken and tired, she swam in clothes five sizes too large. Her normally vibrant orange hair was dulled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The apartment showed no sign of having been cleaned, thick dust on every surface, save the urn that sat on the coffee table. The kitchen looked unused beyond a mug on the counter and a garbage bag, partially filled with take-out containers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, Gabs.\u201d Sophia hugged her, careful not to squeeze her frail frame too hard. \u201cI\u2019m here. I\u2019m always available for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle sobbed on Sophia\u2019s shoulder until she had no more strength. \u201cI think\u2026maybe\u2026I need to get out \u2014 just a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen was the last time you ate?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had Chinese yesterday.\u201d Gabrielle sunk into the sofa in the living room. \u201cThere\u2019s leftovers in the fridge if you want something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophia checked the refrigerator. There was a carton of a beef and vegetable main that hadn\u2019t been touched, and two small cartons of rice, one of which was missing about a third, with a plastic fork stuck in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She checked the trash bag but saw no other containers from the Chinese take-out there. She went back out to the living room and sat beside Gabrielle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll you ate yesterday was a little bit of rice?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle nodded. \u201cI haven\u2019t been hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI see that.\u201d Sophia put an arm around her. \u201cFirst thing, we\u2019re going to get you freshened up and then I\u2019m taking you to the doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe not, but have you been eating like this since\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGabs, I haven\u2019t seen you in a year. You called me every month and told me you were okay.\u201d Sophia leaned her head on Gabrielle\u2019s. \u201cYou didn\u2019t have to lie to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd if I\u2019d said I wasn\u2019t<\/em> ok?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would\u2019ve been right here for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou mean well, but I needed to be alone with\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophia stood and offered a hand to Gabrielle. \u201cCome on, girl. Let\u2019s get you cleaned up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re serious?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mirror in the bathroom had been covered with a towel, and when Sophia reached out to take it off Gabrielle stopped her. \u201cDon\u2019t. I look like\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike shit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After holding Gabrielle up in the shower so she could wash her hair, getting it dried and in a ponytail, Sophia redressed and called her doctor. She spoke with him, setting up an appointment and getting his recommendations for feeding her in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle came out of her bedroom, dressed in sweats that hung off her. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m dressed in my big brother\u2019s clothes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot a problem. We\u2019re not going anywhere fancy.\u201d Sophia stood and offered Gabrielle a hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOff to the doctor\u2019s?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have an appointment Thursday morning. I\u2019ll get you there and back. For today, we\u2019re going shopping, after lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle looked down at herself. \u201cLike this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNowhere it\u2019ll be a problem, I promise.\u201d Sophia put an arm around her shoulders. \u201cWe\u2019re going to the diner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t had a burger in months\u2026a year maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo burgers right away. Doc says to start you on eggs, potato, and rice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause I\u2019m\u2026starved?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah. Starch for immediate energy, and eggs are easy-to-digest proteins. We\u2019re also going to pick up some multi-vitamins, and maybe something that fits you for now. Just to hold you over until you get back in shape.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle let out a short laugh. \u201cUsually that means, \u2018When you get thin,\u2019 but you\u2019re talking about getting fatter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot just fat, muscle too, you know.\u201d Sophia paused at the door. \u201cDoc asked if I knew when your last menstrual cycle was.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve been irregular since\u2026then<\/em>. I think the last was a couple months ago, but it was light.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle hid her face from passing cars as they rode to the diner. It took a bit of \u201cconvincing\u201d \u2014 Sophia just being stubbornly insistent \u2014 to get Gabrielle to leave the car and enter the diner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophia ordered for both of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo coffee?\u201d Gabrielle asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoc says you should avoid caffeine until after he sees you and gives you the all-clear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not here, Soph.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am, though, and don\u2019t think I won\u2019t tell on you.\u201d Sophia grabbed her hand. \u201cHow about some decaf?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle shook her head. \u201cNo. I\u2019ve only been drinking water anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle\u2019s lunch consisted of one-and-a-half eggs, a bite of Sophia\u2019s toast, and a bite of hash brown potatoes, with a small glass of orange juice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophia smiled at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got a little color back in your cheeks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time they reached the department store, Gabrielle was out of energy to walk around and begged to go back home. Not to be deterred, Sophia put her in one of the electric carts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not handicapped.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGabs\u2026can you walk right now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUse the cart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop was the women\u2019s clothing section. After trying on a few different items with Sophia\u2019s help, they found a decent pair of jeans, a few shirts on sale, a set of sweats that fit, and pajamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle tried to put the pajamas back, and Sophia stopped her. \u201cWhy are you putting that back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to buy pajamas. I almost never wear them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not buying shit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can buy my own clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophia cocked an eyebrow. \u201cDid you bring your wallet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle closed her eyes and sighed. \u201cDammit, Soph.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet me do my thing, Gabs.\u201d She kissed her on the top of her head. \u201cI\u2019m more stubborn than you, so you\u2019ll never win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When they had reached the checkout line, the basket of the cart was loaded with eggs, potatoes, fresh vegetables, supplements, fruit juice, potato chips, and popcorn, along with the clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to be able to eat all this before it goes over,\u201d Gabrielle said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know. I\u2019m staying with you for a while.\u201d Sophia raised a hand before Gabrielle could complain. \u201cI\u2019m not going to force you to go out, except to the doctor\u2019s appointment, but I will<\/em> force you to watch silly movies with me. Think of it as an extended sleep-over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe apartment\u2019s a mess, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll it needs is a dust and vacuum. I\u2019ll have that done in the first hour after we get back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While in the middle of watching a randomly chosen comedy, something they used to do every other month, Gabrielle paused the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Gabs?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She pointed at the urn on the coffee table. \u201cShe wanted me to spread her ashes in the forest, by that trail we used to hike. I\u2014I don\u2019t think I can bear to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all I have left of her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe didn\u2019t have much in the way of stuff,\u201d Sophia said, \u201cbecause she always said she didn\u2019t care about stuff.<\/em> I don\u2019t think she ever worked<\/em> any more than she had to in order to survive. She spent more time volunteering than getting paid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know. It just\u2026it still hurts. She\u2019d be ragging on this cheesy-ass movie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe would. No one said it would be easy, but I\u2019m here for you, Gabs; always.\u201d Sophia pulled her close in an embrace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m lucky to have you. What about people who don\u2019t have their own Soph?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle\u2019s eyes pooled with tears. \u201cI mean, if I didn\u2019t have you, I probably wouldn\u2019t have made it. The insurance money is like a demon in my bank account, and I don\u2019t want to spend it, because it feels wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know, Gabs. What if,\u201d Sophia said, \u201cwe use it to set up a fund in her name to help with grief counseling?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019d help me do that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do anything in my power to help you heal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabrielle snuggled closer to Sophia, sniffled, and unpaused the movie.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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